“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.’”
Mark 9:24 NIV
“No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts.’” Mark 9:24 MSG
The theme of faith saturated Jesus’ entire ministry. For example in:
(Matthew 9:22) “Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
(Matthew 15:28) “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed”.
(Mark 2:5) “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
(Mark 10:52). “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road
This morning let us clearly understand that the prerequisite to becoming a Christian is faith, “for without faith it is impossible to please God.” Ultimately, the Christian walk is a faith walk encumbered with many turns and curves. For as often as we travel the faith path, we will encounter detours, speed bumps, curves, and even some mishaps. These detours will often play upon one’s faith, one’s belief system in God’s presence and power. However, the Apostle Paul declared in Romans 3:3 (the English Standard Version of the Bible), “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?” In other words, because man doesn’t believe doesn’t mean that God isn’t trustworthy. People trust in many things and some even trust in God. However, one’s level of trust is expounds based on one’s diligent walk with God. See, Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They even believe the stories in the bible about Christ’s miracles. They believe Christ was born of a virgin, endured affliction and brutality, crucified on the cross, resurrected from the grave, and ascended to His Father. Yet, often it is hard for them to believe that Christ will resurrect their dreams, heal their diseases, open their eyes, and put pep in their steps. In this life, faith is never perfect; belief and unbelief intertwine often. John Ankerberg, author of Assurance for Today hope for Tomorrow, stated, “Faith is sort of like a muscle-it grows strong with usage but degenerates when not used. The measure of faith given (Romans 12:3) grows when used. But the important point is that biblically, faith is never perfect, meaning that our initial faith in Christ-or trust, surrender, submission, commitment-whatever word one uses, is never perfect, nor can it be. However, the smallest amount of genuine faith or trust or commitment is fully sufficient to save us.” Ankerberg speaks of saving faith but God desires that we grow in faith and not retain at the level of faith upon salvation. So, God tries our faith that we may try His faithfulness. There are moments in our lives that our faith is so weak because of the pressures we face.
• You tried one doctor after another
• You tried radiation
• You tried chemotherapy
• You tried medication
• You tried surgery
• You tried changing diet
• You tried curtailing spending
• You tried the marriage counselor
• You tried the laying of hands
• You tried honesty but the dishonest prosper
• You tried being compassionate towards others only to be mistreated by them
• You tried, you tried, & you tried! Yet, nothing changes, the situation remains the same.
So the question is “How do we overcome unbelief (imperfect faith) when the warfare is never-ending and how do we trust a God who sees imperfections but doesn’t stop them?”
I’m glad you asked. Church, I’m here this morning to tell you that uncertainty and doubt about God’s promises and presence are a way of life. We are human beings; it is quite natural for us to struggle, to doubt, to question, to wonder about God’s presence and promises at various times. Whereby, we find it difficult to maintain our faith in who is to be a “Perfect God” when imperfections crush and overwhelm us. However Church, we must still have faith in a perfect God when imperfection is all around us? How do we do this? We follow the blueprint in God’s Word in Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.” This is what this father did when whispered a prayer to God, “Lord, I believe but help me overcome my unbelief.” We should immolate the father’s example. We are to put aside, cast down imaginations and strongholds, that is, all of our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God. Know that doubt sees the obstacles while faith sees the way.
Church God has given us the formula when doubt surface. In Psalm 121
“Lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
This scripture clearly outlines “how we overcome unbelief (imperfect faith) when the warfare is never-ending and how we trust a God who sees imperfections but doesn’t stop them?” In other words, we are to seek God and ask for His strength. We must lay naked before God and ask God just like this father did to help us in our weakness, in our doubts and to help us overcome our unbelief. For in our weakness Christ is made strong as exhibited in our text this morning. You do know that we all have weaknesses?
This message is geared to speak to that place that many of us find ourselves. We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of lives, but we still need help with our unbelief. We need help with our imperfect faith that He can overcome the attacks from the enemy and things of this world. We believe (or desire to believe) but we also know what it is like to feel so afraid for our lives or our loved ones. We believe, or want to, but it is not so easy when the warfare is engaging and the darkness surrounds us. We believe, but then when the changes and challenges come our way, we often feel all alone, overwhelmed, worn out. You don’t have to agree but I know I’m right about it because I’ve been there, in that position time and time again. I know firsthand how fleeting faith can be. Because doubts overtake us, hurts often consume us and loneliness and pain and fears can overwhelm us. But faith looks beyond the darkness of earth to the brightness of heaven.
As I studied this text Church, I found that it wasn’t that the father didn’t have faith. Rather it’s obvious that he did possess faith because he requested that the disciples heal his child. Verses 17-18 states:
“17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Astonishingly, it was the disciples who didn’t possess faith; who had doubt. Doubt and faith cannot operate simultaneously. The Prophet Amos stated in Amos 3:3, “how can two walk together unless they agree.” And the Apostle James declared, “if there are any sick among you they are to call upon the elders of the church… and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick” (James 5:14-15). Whenever doubt is present it will impede the manifestation of faith. That’s why the disciples could not heal this father’s son of his sickness.
It amazed me that these disciples, not just any disciple, but as the father said, “Your disciples,” Jesus’ disciples could not cast out the demons. These are the same disciples that had just witness great miracles. They saw Christ healed the sick, restore sight to the blind, empowered the cripple to walk. They saw Christ:
• Feed a multitude of 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish; they saw Christ
• Walk on water; they saw Christ
• Heal the sick in Gennesaret; they saw Christ
• Cast a demon out of the Syrophoenician’s daughter; they saw Christ
• Heal the deaf and mute man; they saw Christ
• Feed a multitude of 4,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish; and they saw Christ
• Heal the blind man at Bethsaida
Yet they couldn’t heal this man’s son. Even though Jesus inner circle (Peter, James, and John who had just witness Christ’s transfiguration on the mountain) was not a party to this particular incident, they too lacked faith. Now you would believe that after having a first hand account of Jesus’ miracles, any of the disciples would be able to deliver this son from demonic possession but they could not because of their unbelief. Christ had just rebuked them in Chapter 8:18 and again in 9:19:
“Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember.”
“O unbelieving generation. How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
We see the same behavior today. No matter how many miracles Christ performs:
• Tumor dissolved
• Lame walking
• Sight restored
• Foreclosure stopped
• Promotion unearned
• Child returned unharmed
People, today’s Christians still possess doubt in the Almighty’s power and wonders. Some people believe in the miracles but do not expect to see them happen today just like the disciples.
I believe that the disciples didn’t comprehend the awesomeness and miraculous wonders of Christ but their limited faith didn’t totally hinder this father. For afterall, this story really wasn’t about the son’s healing; it was actually about the father’s healing of unbelief. So, what did the father do to overcome his unbelief? This father pressed his way through the crowds and went directly to Jesus. Verse 15 says, “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.”
Because the disciples couldn’t heal this man’s son, it surfaced a moment of doubt in the father. Yet, this father didn’t allow his doubt to impede the possibility of Jesus healing his son. Rather the father said in Verse 22, “…But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
The father didn’t care how it was done as long as it was done and his last resource was Jesus. I don’t believe that the father didn’t think Christ could heal his son. This father was just like you and me. After dealing with church folks who claim they are baptized and filled with the holy ghost and can’t heal a fly, the father’s faith wavered. What does that say to us? When we’ve tried everything else; we listened to everybody and things don’t work out, why not “Try Jesus.” Actually, we should seek Him first and stated in Matthew 6:33.
Jesus authoritatively responds to the father, “If You Can!” What do you mean, if I can? Don’t you know that all things are possible if you only believe? And today, Christ is saying the same thing to us, what do you mean, “if I can!” In so doing, we are questioning Christ’s authenticity and questioning His authority. All we need to do is – simply believe that all things are possible if you, I, us, them, they, we only believe. Look at yourself and say with me, “Lord, Help Me Overcome My Unbelief, my Imperfect Faith.” See your unbelief is not my unbelief. It’s a personal faith walk. For what I may believe in, you may not.
Saints, I’ve learned in my Christian walk that faith in Christ comes in levels as our relationship mature in Christ. So for a few minutes, let’s take a look at these levels of faith. One Sunday morning, I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley television program, “In Touch.” Well, Dr. Stanley was speaking on levels of faith. So what I share with you this morning is an excerpt of Dr. Stanley’s teaching that is scripturally supported.
There are three Levels of Faith: (Little faith, Great faith, and Perfect/Real Faith)
• Little Faith (restless, struggling, wavering) – Doubts ask, “Can God?” Faith says, “God can.” Doubt sees the obstacles but faith sees the way.
Matthew 6:30 “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?” Often it seems that we trust God for the wants of our lives but we fail to eradicate, stamp out our doubt and trust Him for the needs of our lives even though He has already promised to provide our every need.
• Great Faith (reaching, maturing faith) - If we feed our faith, our doubts will starve to death. When we don’t exercise our muscles weakens, deteriorate. Faith is like a muscle and prayer is the exercise that helps it grow.
Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Great faith focus on God, not circumstances; great faith brings trust that conquers fears and help you and me to overcome unbelief.
Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” An individual with great faith can sit by patiently and wait on the Lord to work the situation out. They will not move ahead of God. This doesn’t mean that they will do nothing afterall the scripture says, “faith without works is dead.” But what it does mean is when we’ve done our part, all we need to do is to watch God work the situation out.
Matthew 8:5-10 “And when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is paralyzed at home, suffering great pain.’ And He said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion answered and said, ‘Lord I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed….(Verse 10) ‘Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said to those who were following, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” (Centurion solider possessed great faith because he believed that Jesus didn’t have to be present in order to heal his servant).
Matthew 15:22-28 states, “And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region, and began to cry out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed. But He did not answer her a word… 25But she came and began to bow down before Him saying, ‘Lord help me!’ And He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ But she said, ‘Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, your faith is great be it done for you as you wish.” (This Canaanite woman realized that she had to humble herself to God and out of her persistence and humbleness, Jesus healed her daughter).
Gary L. Thomas, author of Authentic Faith stated, “If your faith begins and ends with you, you are missing the truly profound experience of working with God to make a difference in a needy person’s life.” The 3rd type of faith is:
• Perfect, Real Faith (is resting faith) – This type of faith totally depends upon the character of God. This type of faith says, “It’s a done deal with God.”
Mark 11:20-22, “And as they (Jesus and his disciples) were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. And being reminded, Peter said to Him, ‘Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered saying ‘Have faith in God.” Trust that God’s Word will fulfill its purpose; that’s why He sent it. Whatever God speaks it shall, not might, but it shall come to pass. Validate your faith with God’s character and word then your doubts will dissolve. Ask yourself this question, does my doubts line up with the character and nature of God?
Genesis 22:1-5, “He said unto his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship there and then we will come back to you.” In this passage of Scripture, it doesn’t say Abraham believed the text, it says Abraham believed God. It wasn’t what Abraham believed, it was who Abraham believed that counted. Abraham’s faith rested on the true character, the faithfulness of God.
Where do you find yourself presently? Do you walk in Little Faith, Great Faith, or Perfect/Real Faith? A. W. Tozer author of The Attributes of God, A Journey Into the Father’s Heart states, “The man of real faith believes the Word, but it has been illuminated so that he knows what the Word means. That doesn’t mean that he’s a better Bible teacher. But it means that he has had what the Quakers call “an opening.” His heart has been open to the Word. The given revelation is a means toward an end, and God is the end, not the text itself.”
I close with these words of encouragement. As I stated, I know first hand that living with faith is not easy, but it is where we are called – Afterall we are saved by faith. It is not always clear, but it is who we are invited to be – people who trust and follow, live and love, with faith. “How do we overcome unbelief (imperfect faith) when the warfare is never-ending and how do we trust a God who sees imperfections but doesn’t stop them?” We remember God gave each of us ‘the measure of faith.’ So, whatever measure you possess, little faith, great faith, or real/perfect faith, exercise it. As you daily exercise your faith with the Word of God, watch your doubts evaporate and your faith walk expand. I pray that God continues to bless us and sustain us in this warfare journey of faith as the Lord helps us overcome our unbelief.
